In observance of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, lowernine.org is launching a #50states ambassador fundraising campaign to support the rebuilding and maintenance of homes for legacy Lower 9th Ward residents.
Since 2005, lowernine.org has been dedicated to both short- and long-term disaster recovery and sustainable revitalization of the Lower 9th Ward, where Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing levee breaches rendered 100 percent of residential properties uninhabitable. The organization’s affordable home rebuild program focuses exclusively on legacy residents—a population that is 98.1% Black, with an income level well below the national average, said Executive Director Laura Paul.
The #50states ambassador initiative will recognize a leader from every state committed to raising $1,000 by September 30 to support lowernine.org’s ongoing work. The campaign is located here.
“Over the years, lowernine.org has hosted volunteers from every state and 35 different countries, who have helped repair and rebuild homes in the Lower 9th Ward. To date, the value of their volunteer labor exceeds $10 million,” Paul said.
On August 23—the date Hurricane Katrina formed in the Gulf of Mexico 20 years ago—the organization will also launch a new and improved website. In addition to sharing lowernine.org’s history and impact, the site allows individuals and groups to sign up for volunteer shifts (Tuesdays–Saturdays), learn valuable home maintenance skills, and get involved in the ongoing home rebuild program.
“Over the past 20 years, lowernine.org has fully rebuilt 98 homes and made repairs to more than 400 others in this two-square-mile neighborhood. The organization also operates a Saturday food pantry, providing commodities to an average of 160 households each week,” Paul said.
The updated website will also feature a timeline of significant events, from the storm’s development, landfall, and levee breaches, to more recent storms and challenges in the Lower 9th Ward. It will also highlight systemic failures in disaster recovery, such as the Road Home Program and the Make it Right Foundation.
“If you believe in the importance of equitable disaster recovery, please consider making a donation to lowernine.org, a 501(c)(3) organization, at www.lowernine.org,” Paul said.
